Roller-skate



UNITED STATES PATENT O FICE.

J ACOB VORE ROWLETT, OF RICHMOND, INDIANA.

ROLLER-SKATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 327,966, dated October 6, 1885.

Application filed June 22,1685.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J AOOB V. ROWLETT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Richmond, in the county of Wayne and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and use ful Improvements in Roller-Skates, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to roller-skates; and the purpose thereof is to provide simple and efficient means whereby the skate may be converted from one fastening by heel and toe clamps into a skate which is attached to the foot by a toe-clamp and a heel-strap, thereby adapting the same skate to be used by a gentleman or by a lady, the only change required being the application of the holding or instep strap at the heel. It is also my purpose to provide a skate having both heel and toe clamps, and provided with heel-supports, so constructed that a heel-strap may be readily and instantaneously attached to or detached from the same, thereby adapting the skate to be used with the clamps only, or with said clamps and the strap combined.

My invention'consists in the several novel features of construction and combinations of parts, hereinafter fully set forth, and definitely pointed out in the claims annexed to this specification.

Referring to the drawings, forming part of this application, Figure l is a perspective view of the skate complete,with the heel-strap attached. Fig. 2 is a detail view of a modified form of heel-strap together with the instep-strap. Fig. 3 isa detail perspective of one of the heel-supports provided with the strap attachment, removed from the skate.

In the said drawings, the reference-letter A designates the foot-plate of a roller-skate of any known and suitable construction, and mounted on brackets or hangers in which the rolls are journaled. At the toe and heel ends of this plate are arranged clamping-jaws B, which are moved in and out by double screwshafts G, the screw-threads cut thereon having a reverse twist, the construction of these parts being that in common use.

The reference-letter D indicates the rear heel-support. (Shown in detail in Fig. 3.) It consists of a substantially rectangular frame,

Serial No. 169,468. (No model.)

feature does not constitute an essential part of my present invention. Each heel-support is provided with a foot-piece or flange, D, projecting from its lower edge and underlying the foot-plate A, to which it is securely fastened by a rivet, d. In this position the edge of the heel portion of the foot-plate lies closely against the inner face of the upright support, and prevents it from turning upon its hold ing-rivet.

Projecting from the outer face of each support D is a central vertical rib, E, arched or curved outwardly, and divided at a point be tween its extremities to form a narrow opening, 6. lhis opening is preferably located at such a point as to form two spurs or fingers of unequal length, the upper being somewhat the longer. These spurs form the attachments for the detachable strap.

I may use with this skate two forms of strapone form being shown in place in Fig. 1, and the other detached in Fig. 2. The former is constructed in two separate parts or pieces, F, each provided at one end with a suitable buckle, G, and at the other end with a perforation of proper size to receive the strap-holding spur upon the heel support. The manner of attaching and detaching this divided or two-part strap is too obvious to require explanation.

Instead of the two-part strap I may employ one made in a single piece, as shown at G in Fig. 2. This strap is simply the one just described joined as to its parts by a central portion. It is provided with buckles at each end, and with perforations g to engage with the spurs, and is applied by pushing the edge through the openings e until the spurs enter the perforations. An instep-strap, I, is then buckled to it and the skate is ready to put on. The two-part strap is, however, preferable.

The straps may be attached and removed in an instant, and when once in place they are retained by the peculiar construction of the spurs with which they engage.

It is evident that I may employ a single strap only by merely prolonging one end of the strap G sufficiently to enable it to pass over the instep and engage with a buckle upon the other end of the said strap. In the case of the two-part strap, also, I may prolong one of the separate pieces to form the instepstrap.

I have shown the spurs as arranged centrally upon the heel-supports; but it is evident that they may have a different arrangement, and that their form may be considerably varied without departing from my inventiou.

By my improvements I provide a skate which may be attached to the foot by the clamps only, or by the clamps in combination with the heelstrap; and my invention is ap plicable to both roller and runner skates. The skate is thus adapted to be used by either sex, a heelstrap or its equivalent being indispensable for a lady, by reason of the prevailing form of heel applied to ladies shoes, which renders fastening by a clamp impracticable.

By this method of attachingand holding the heel-strap I am enabled to make the latter in two parts or separate sections, as shown in Fig. 1, whereby a considerable economy in leather is effected. Moreover, the strap thus formed fits better, as the separate parts of which it is composed have a pivotal move ment or adjustment on the spurs of the heelsupports, enabling them to fit smoothly over the foot, and preventing the wrinkling which is apt to occur when the strap is made in one continuous piece.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In a roller or other skate having clamping devices at toe and heel, the combination, with the foot-plate, of heel supports having spurs or fingers adapted to receive a heelstrap, substantially as specified.

2. In a roller or other skate, the combination, with the foot-plate provided with toe and heel clamps, of a detachable heel strap engaging with suitable spurs attached to the rear part of the heel portion of said plate, substantially as specified."

3. In a roller or other skate, the combination, with the foot-plate provided with clamps at heel and toe, of heel-supports attached to the rear end of the plate and having an out wardly-curved divided rib, substantially as specified.

4. In a roller or other skate, the combination, with the foot-plate having clamps at heel and toe, of heel-supports D, each having an outwardly-curved rib, E, divided between its ends to form an opening, 6, and a strap or straps detachably connected therewith, sub stantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

J AOOB VORE ROWLETT. Witnesses:

CHAS. E. SHIERLEY, A. L. STUDY. 

